Gary Engberg Outdoors

gengberg January 31st, 2011

A Thousand Words Tell a Picture   What do you see when you look at this photo? The lake - the idyllic reflection of the cliff line formed on the tranquil surface? Natural sunlight warming the rocks and eliciting their true color - the iridescent colors adorning this picture-perfect black crappie? Can you see the fluid path we took across the lake that morning? How about the patience necessary to wait for that one bite, or later, the clouds to break providing the illumination crucial to do the scenery justice?

Behind every photograph lie 1,000 words and ceaseless minutes of preparation and waiting - yes, waiting. In fact, in the world of professional photography, we often find ourselves in a paradoxical “hurry up and wait” mode, whereby photo subjects are beckoned to be on set and available at a moment’s notice, but often nearly nod off awaiting their final summons to the business end of the camera.

In Arkansas, on this brisk Lake Norfork morning the air was still but with a nip; the skies were low and grey and sunshine shrouded with the exception of brief bursts between billows - those sun-filled gaps would prove priceless in the end.

We left the docks of Handcove Resort at daybreak navigating calm water through foggy coves protected in premium FXE Stormsuit raingear and toting a wardrobe the likes of a runway model.

Just about any sizable fish would do in the big picture, but we had our minds set on a trophy crappie. Obstacles blocked our bringing that special speckled fish boatside, though, first and foremost being that our guide, Larry Olsen is an oracle to the lake but specializes in bass of all stripes, but not panfish. However, without a hint of intimidation, he embraced the challenge knowing that brushy crappie hideaways sprouted along his premium bass fishing milk runs.

Larry took us to one of his money spots, a cove that kicks out largemouth and spotted bass like a vending machine. The submerged secret to the spot was that sunken brush zigzagged the cove’s midsection, in deeper water - 30 to 35 feet - beyond the rugged banks he classically strafes for bass.

So we rigged up with what crappie gear was onboard, and it was sparse at best, again, Larry licks his chops for bass not crappies. Fortunately, we brought along a couple of panfish-weight St. Croix Rods with matched Daiwa Reels.

Larry rummaged up a few smaller plain hooks. We found a couple of slip-bobbers rolling around in camera bags, and thought far enough ahead to procure a couple dozen small minnows on the drive from Blue Lady Resort around Norfork to Handcove Resort.

Larry trolled, pulling us gingerly across the brushpiles while floats held flashy minnows atop the wooded structure. Not long into the campaign he clearly identified, via sonar, fish holding tight to the tops of a brushpile. We quickly adjusted the depth of our baits to hang tauntingly above the fish. If they were in fact crappies, which commonly feed upwards, we’d be in business. Zing! We had our first beautiful Norfork crappie in the livewell. Fists clenched, we did that knuckle banging celebration that has replaced the now outdated high-five. So we were successful, and hip, at least for the moment.

Morning surrendered to midday and what had ascended into a productive crappie expedition stalled. Continue Reading »